Break-in sparks fears among informants

The theft of top secret documents from Special Branch is a huge setback in the fight against paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland, a former MI5 agent claimed tonight.

Former soldier turned spy Willie Carlin, who infiltrated republicans in Derry in 1974 and reported on their political activities for 11 years, said informers currently monitoring loyalist and republican terror groups would not be reassured by Ronnie Flanagan’s claim that the documents did not contain their names.